Gauging the effect of compositional and curricular diversity on freshman success

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, a substantial body of research has accumulated that suggests ethnic and racial diversity among college students yields significant educational benefits, including "steeper learning curves" and enhanced cognitive skills, and improved persistence (Brown, 2006;Shaw, 2005;Milem, Chang, and Antonio, 2005; ACE and AAUP, 2000;Chang, 1999). However, reflecting on three decades of studies on the connection between diversity and student learning, Pascarella and Terenzini (2005, p. 130) point out that "all the findings are based solely on student selfreports." Moreover, the accumulated research fails to specifically measure educational benefits associated with ethnic and racial diversity in the classroom (Terenzini and others, 2001).To improve our understanding of how diversity may influence student success, this study estimates the impact of ethnic and racial composition in the classroom on cumulative first-year grades and enrollment persistence of freshmen students at a moderately selective research university. These two first-year outcomes are also correlated with first-year curricular experiences, including estimating the effect associated with taking courses focused on diversity issues. A review of the literature is followed by description of the data, the analytical approach, and discussion of results from the statistical models used to gauge the influence of the variables of interest.

Do diversity courses improve college student outcomes? A meta-analysis.

“…Given the debate on whether diversity courses have any impact on student growth (e.g., Herzog, 2010), this meta-analysis lends support for the consistent, positive link between college diversity coursework and various student outcomes and therefore the continued use of this approach in higher education. However, further research is now needed to pinpoint exactly what about diversity courses specifically (e.g., contextual and pedagogical practices) influence student learning and behavior.…”

Promoting Participation in a Diverse Democracy

“…Despite the recent proliferation of research illustrating a link between college diversity experiences and student outcomes, some researchers and commentators continue to question the educational benefits of diversity on college campuses (Herzog, 2010;Purdy, 2008). Therefore, one of the primary insights of this metaanalysis is to establish definitively the relationship between diversity experiences and civic growth across a wide range of studies.…”